Grancrest Senki (Record of Grancrest War)

The Lords are all corrupt!

They do nothing but battle day and night!

They refuse to listen to the teachings of God!

As such, the pretender to the throne, Theo Cornaro,

is now monopolizing the Crests, shards of the One God,

and is attempting to claim the Continent as his own!

As God's representative, I hereby declare the start of a holy war!

To think that the Order of the Crest would become our enemy now.

What is the Order of the Crest thinking?

Why are they trying to thwart us?

It must mean that the Order of the Crest and the Mage Academy are connected.

What's your reasoning?

It was last night that the Mage Academy purged the Lord-supporting Mages,

and chose the path of war against the Lords.

The very next day, the Order of the Crest declared holy war on the Imperial Army.

Not only that, but they've positioned themselves to block the path to Eramu.

That can't just be a coincidence, now, can it?

How big is the Papal Force, I wonder?

They have 2,000 holy warriors, and around 3,000 mercenaries.

And they have over 70,000 followers.

However, that includes a great number of women, children, and the elderly.

Holy warriors and mercenaries are one thing,

but I have no desire to fight innocent people.

I understand how you feel, Sir Theo.

After all, you've always fought for the sake of the people.

If you can't fight, then I'll fight for you.

It will not come to a battle.

Because that is not the wish of the One God.

Priscilla?

Let me go see Sir Leone.

I shall convince him.

You would do that for us?

Yes.

That would be too dangerous!

The Pope is calling you a fake, claiming that he himself is the Holy Grail.

If you went to see a man like that, you could be killed!

Nevertheless, I must go.

It's because that is the duty I must fulfill.

But still...

Perhaps we should try her way.

Why would you say such things?

Now that the Pope has his followers taking to the battlefield, you cannot fight the Order.

That said, we can't sit here with our hands tied,

or the Papal Army would eventually attack, shielding itself with those followers.

Should that comes to pass, there's a chance our forces may be wiped out.

Either way, it would be a stalemate.

That's still no reason for me to send her into danger alone!

Of course it isn't.

That's why I'm going to accompany her.

So what is the Imperial Army up to?

They've positioned themselves on a hill, and have shown no sign of making a move.

They must be stricken with fear of the One God and the Pope.

That youngling, Theo Cornaro, will soon prostrate himself before you, and beg for your forgiveness.

What about my followers?

I'm impressed that they've gathered.

However, they also seem hesitant about fighting the hero, Theo Cornaro.

Their morale is not high by any means.

Well, they know that the Holy Maiden Priscilla serves the emperor.

Those in the Holy Maiden faction

have been preaching that Theo Cornaro will offer the Grancrest to the Holy Maiden Priscilla,

and the One God will then be revived.

Can we win?

We have greater numbers, but in terms of skill and equipment, the Imperial Army is superior.

Unfortunately, it will be difficult to defeat them.

What did you say?

Rest assured.

There's no need to win this battle.

In fact, it might be better to be royally defeated.

If rumors spread that the Lords massacred followers of the Order,

Theo Cornaro's reputation will surely suffer.

I see.

Captain Gunther, start preparing for your attack on the Imperial Army.

Tomorrow morning, launch an attack with the followers in the vanguard.

Keep the holy warriors and the mercenaries in camp.

Understood.

Sir Theo, I didn't expect you to see me off personally. Thank you.

We'll persuade the Pope no matter what.

Please wait for good news.

Please, just come back safely.

That's our intention.

What's that broom for?

The leader of the White Witches showed me how to make it.

It's not as easy to use as a wand, but having it enables me to focus better.

I see.

Irvin. Aishela.

- Please, look after these two. - Of course.

I owe her for saving my life twice. Time to pay her back.

All right, then, we'll be on our way.

Let's put our faith in those two.

Your Grace, we have come today to ask a favor of you.

What would that be?

If I may, Your Grace...

Emperor Theo does not wish to engage you in battle.

The Imperial Army's objective is to quell the disturbance in Eramu.

That is fine with me. However, I have one condition.

And that is?

He is to hand over all of the Crests in the Imperial Army's possession.

Crests are for reviving the One God.

Any who monopolizes those Crests must be punished no matter who they are.

That goes for even the emperor himself!

But Emperor Theo is not monopolizing the Crests!

The emperor's goal is to use the Grancrest to eradicate the Chaos across the Continent.

Isn’t that the same goal for the Order?

That by the power of the One God,

Chaos shall be eradicated from the Continent to create a paradise for this world?

The Imperial Army and the Order have the same goal?

- She's lying to escape God's wrath. - Is that true?

Silence! I won't allow you to mislead our followers with such lies!

They are not lies.

You're... Priscilla.

Sir Leone. It's been a long time.

- Did he say that's Lady Priscilla? - The one foretold to be the Holy Grail?

Emperor Theo is always professing his intent to end the age of Chaos, as long as it's in his power.

And that means reviving the One God.

That is the job of His Eminence, the Pope, as God's representative!

It's not something a brat of humble birth should be allowed to do!

What does one's social standing have to do with the noble act of reviving God?

We should all be equal before God.

Sir Joseph, we're about to go into battle.

Why don't we set up another opportunity for Priestess Priscilla to explain herself?

There won't be any battle.

Because Sir Theo has no intention of fighting.

It's true that Sir Theo is not a follower of the Order.

But my father, Ernest, founder of our Order,

told us repeatedly that we mustn't force our faith on others.

You've all heard that before, haven't you?

That's right! That's what the Founder used to say!